Burlington will apply for disaster relief, urges community to give as well

A special meeting of Burlington City Council is planned for next week in response to the flooding that have devastated more than 15 hundred homes in the city.

Mayor Rick Goldring notes that they will be asking for provincial help, through the Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program.

Goldring adds that a fundraising campaign is being launched through the United Way, in hopes that the province will provide the city with two dollars for every one dollar that is raised in the community.

He notes that the depth of devastation to homes affected by flooding, is very significant.

The mayor notes that while the vast majority of people have had insurance, there are many stories of people with damage 10-and-15 times what is covered.

Goldring stresses that while some people can handle a hit of 50 thousand dollars or so, most people cannot.

Burlington Liberal M-P-P Eleanor McMahon, another of the speakers at a news conference on Friday morning, says she’s inspired by the resilience of people but heartbroken by the devastation she has seen.